ICC World Cup 2011 Preview: Pakistan Vs Australia

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Pakistan and Australia are set to meet in a considerably anticipated Group A game at Colombo, on March 19.

Although Pakistan stumbled to a shock defeat against New Zealand, Australia have maintained their unbeaten record at the World Cup with a rain abandoned game against Sri Lanka the only game in five that hasn't gone Oz's way.

The final time these sides met in a world cup was in 2003, when Australia demolished Pakistan by 82 runs. But history will count for nothing when we give some thought to no matter if Pakistan can beat Australia, on Saturday. While attempting to answer this question, I must willy-nilly concede Pakistan's reputation as a maverick side capable of beating any opposition, on their day. It would all depend on which side of the bed they got out of, on the morning of the match.

In truth, Australia's final loss to any team at the World Cup was to Pakistan, in 1999. The loss to Pakistan came in the group stage, when 1st Inzamam and later Moin Khan put Glenn McGrath to the sword. Later, Australia beat the very same rivals in the final, in a hopelessly 1-sided contest. The Pakistan team that played in the final bore little resemblance to the one that had beaten Steve Waugh's men in the group.

Coming to how the existing Australia and Pakistan sides match up, Oz seem to be clearly the stronger, with greater strength and depth in batting, and have far better balance, in the form of players possessing all-round talent. The 1 area in which the Pakistan side can claim to be superior is in the spin department with skipper Afridi leading from the front. Spin could be a potent factor at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium.

But the moot question for Pakistan is how are they going to shield their new ball operators, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Razzaq, from the likes of Watson, Haddin and Ponting, who incidentally is due for a major 1. The battering that Pakistan's pacers took against New Zealand will not be forgotten easily, and it appears to have persuaded Akhtar to announce his retirement after the cup. Hussey shaped nicely on his return to the team, and along with White, lends solidity to Australia's lower middle order.

Pakistan's batting woes at the best of the order are unlikely to obtain any respite with Lee and Tait firing 150 kmph missiles at them. But Pakistan can hope to consolidate in the middle overs, with Australia lacking any spin bowling most likely to cause alarm. The important will be for the openers to weather the very first 10 overs.

As far as their team composition is concerned, the primary question for Pakistan who will open. On the strength of their final game, it's reasonable to expect Asad Shafiq to partner Hafeez. The other question is about who will partner Gul with the new ball. I anticipate old war horse Akhtar to get the nod over Riaz. Australia must go with a predictable eleven with Krejza the fourth bowler and Smith the second "all-rounder" alongside White.